Former Dallas Cowboy and Ouachita Baptist safety Cliff Harris was on hand Monday afternoon as the Little Rock Touchdown Club unveiled an award in his honor.
The Cliff Harris Small College Player of the Year award will go to the best defensive player in the nation from a school in either NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA.
NFL Hall of Famer Roger Staubach and Cowboy legends Drew Pearson, Charlie Waters and Gil Brandt all appeared at the event unveiling the award, at the Embassy Suites in west Little Rock. Former Alabama head coach and Dallas assistant coach Gene Stallings also attended and shared his thoughts on Harris. All were selected to serve on the award's selection committee.
After a short introduction, Harris, a Hot Springs native who finished his high school career in Des Arc, delivered some remarks about the award, his playing days with the Tigers and Cowboys, and his thoughts on modern football. The 500 or so fans who showed up for the ceremony were also treated to a video tribute to Harris.
Harris, an undrafted free agent who signed with the Cowboys as a rookie in 1970, played 10 seasons in the NFL. He played in five Super Bowls, won two, was named to six Pro Bowls and was voted as a All-Pro four consecutive seasons. Harris, who was born in Fayetteville, was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor in 2004.
Read more about this story in tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.